Butler County emergency officials knew it was coming, but the amount and intensity of the driving rain 10 years ago still amazed even the most experienced emergency responders.

“Ivan was the most challenging event I dealt with in my entire career,” said Frank Matis, who was head of emergency services for the county when the remnants of Hurricane Ivan roared through the county starting on Sept. 17, 2004.

While anyone who lived near a creek or stream suffered from flooding, it was particularly devastating for those near the Connoquenessing Creek.

“It just kept escalating throughout the day,” Matis said of the rain — up to 6 inches — that seriously damaged 16 communities.

How deep did the flooding get?

“I remember looking out the window and seeing a jet ski going up the street. You could only see half of the parking meters,” said District Judge Wayne Seibel, whose office is in Evans City.

The massive rains and resulting flooding caused millions of dollars in damages across the county, with Harmony sustaining more than $1.6 million in residential damage.

More than 70 homes and five businesses were damaged in the borough.

Evans City had more than $600,000 in damages after 111 structures were affected there, while flooding caused more than $350,000 in damage to the Western Butler County Sewer Authority in Zelienople.

Hundreds of people had to leave their homes, and many had to be rescued from rising waters.

“It was the most intense night of my life,” said Chris Calhoun, the Butler County Community College coordinator for the school's Park and Recreation Management program, who led some of those rescues.

Although the heavy rain caused substantial damage, it also motivated public service agencies to pull together to help those families who lost everything.

People and businesses donated money, food, furniture and other items to Ivan's victims.

“So many people wanted to make donations or volunteer to help,” Matis said. “People would call (911) and say, 'Hey, I can clean a basement or something.' And I mean a lot of calls like that. Not just one or two. It was surprising and amazing. People just wanted to help.”

The American Red Cross received nearly 400 calls for assistance during a time when first responders were stretched thin.

A longer-term development was the start of an emergency relief hot line for subsequent disasters.

Today and Monday the Butler Eagle recounts stories about what occurred during that disaster. Additional stories are on Pages B1, B2 and B7 today.

“This was a 100-year flood, so what are you going to do? But I don't ever want to see it again,” Norm Nelson, public works director for Evans City, said, probably reflecting the thoughts of other officials about what happened 10 years ago this coming week.